While 3D printing technology is newer than conventional milling, it’s equally easy to integrate into any dental practice. If you already have a scanner, it’s basically just a case of adding a 3D printer into your current workflow and updating your software as necessary. If you also already have a mill, keeping it around will give you the additional flexibility and familiarity of choosing the best material for each case.
If you don’t have a digital workflow, it’s still simple to adopt 3D printing, aside from the learning curve that inevitably comes with using a scanner. Your technology sales rep will help you choose the right equipment, and professional installers will get it integrated and connected. It’s not much more disruptive than a visit from the cable guy.
Is it worth it? Talk to any dentist who uses a 3D printing workflow, and they’ll tell you it certainly is. Speaking strictly in financial terms, like all major investments, it takes time to fully pay for itself. However, users enjoy immediate benefits in efficiency, precision, and patient satisfaction. Let’s quickly break down the process, laying out all the steps and tools required for seamlessly integrating 3D printing into your dental practice.
Step 1: Figuring Out What You Need
This is really just a case of (a) calculating what kind of production volume you need to meet your current needs and (b) projecting what you think you may need a few years down the road. After all, you want to buy it once and buy it right. It’s also crucial to assess your practice’s specific clinical requirements and objectives. Consider factors such as the types of procedures you frequently perform, the volume of cases, and the desired outcomes. Chances are, you already know the answers right now. Identifying your needs will guide you in selecting the most suitable 3D printing solutions for your practice.
Step 2: Choosing the Right 3D Printer
Selecting the appropriate 3D printer is paramount to the success of your dental 3D printing workflow. Several factors should influence your decision, including print resolution, build volume, material compatibility, and ease of use. The two main types of 3D printers with application for dental practices are DLP and SLA printers. Read more on the differences between these two types of printers at Benco Dental’s blog, The Daily Floss. For dental applications, resin-based printers are often preferred due to their ability to produce highly detailed and accurate models.
Step 3: Stocking Materials and Accessories
In terms of difficulty, buying supplies and maintaining a 3D printer lands somewhere between keeping up with a home inkjet printer and an office photocopier. Of course, you’ll need to acquire a supply of dental-grade resin that is specifically formulated for 3D printing applications in dentistry. You can ensure you’re getting the right products by purchasing them from a dedicated dental distributor. These resins offer biocompatibility, accuracy, and durability, making them ideal for fabricating dental appliances and models.
Additionally, you will need essential accessories such as build platforms, resin tanks, and cleaning solutions to maintain your 3D printer and ensure optimal performance. At the end of the day, using and maintaining a 3D printer quickly becomes second nature because they are designed to be used by people with ordinary technical skills. (We’ll dive deeper into cleaning and preventive maintenance in step 6.)
Step 4: Scanning and Designing
One of the most transformative ways that digital dentistry can benefit your practice is the way intraoral scanners or desktop scanners are used to capture accurate digital impressions of patients’ teeth and oral structures. Everyone agrees on this point: replacing conventional impression-taking methods offers greater accuracy and patient comfort.
Once the digital impressions are captured, the next step involves importing these files into Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, marking the inception of the design process for various dental appliances and restorations. CAD software serves as a versatile platform for dental professionals to manipulate digital models with exceptional precision. Through intuitive interfaces and advanced design functionalities, practitioners can meticulously craft dental prosthetics, crowns, bridges, and other restorations tailored to meet each patient’s unique anatomical needs and aesthetic preferences.
The design process entails meticulous manipulation of digital models to achieve the desired form and fit of dental appliances and restorations. This involves intricate adjustments to ensure optimal occlusion, contouring, and overall functionality. By leveraging CAD software’s sophisticated tools, dental professionals can meticulously refine every aspect of the digital model, fine-tuning details to achieve the highest standards of quality and performance.
Moreover, the seamless integration of intraoral scanning technology and CAD software facilitates a streamlined workflow from initial impression capture to final restoration delivery. This integration fosters efficient communication and collaboration between clinicians and dental laboratories, enabling seamless transmission of digital files for fabrication. Dental laboratories can leverage these digital impressions to fabricate restorations with unparalleled accuracy, minimizing the need for manual adjustments and enhancing overall treatment outcomes.
Step 5: Printing and Post-Processing
With the digital design ready, it’s time to initiate the printing process. Load the design file into the slicing software, which converts the digital model into printable layers. Transfer the sliced file to your 3D printer and commence the printing operation. After printing is complete, carefully remove the printed objects from the build platform and perform post-processing tasks such as cleaning, curing, and support removal.
Step 6: Maintaining Your Printer
Maintaining your 3D printing equipment is essential for ensuring longevity and reliability. Follow manufacturer recommendations for routine maintenance tasks such as cleaning, calibrating, and replacing consumable parts. If you get stuck at any point, your printer’s manufacturer will likely be able to provide remote support; almost every manufacturer is an expert at talking customers through the different processes. In addition, Benco Dental’s onsite techs will also be happy to show up in person and help with any repairs or more complex issues.
Cleaning is a fundamental aspect of 3D printer maintenance, as the accumulation of debris, resin residue, or dust can impair print quality and lead to mechanical issues over time. Utilizing recommended cleaning solutions and procedures, such as wiping down surfaces, unclogging extruder nozzles, and cleaning resin tanks, helps prevent contamination and ensures smooth operation.
Calibration is another vital aspect of maintenance that directly impacts print accuracy and consistency. Regularly calibrating key components such as the build plate, resin tank, and optical systems helps maintain precise dimensional accuracy and minimize printing errors. Calibration procedures may vary depending on the manufacturer, type, and model of the 3D printer, so it’s essential to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific instructions.
In addition to cleaning and calibration, proactive replacement of consumable parts is essential for preventing unexpected downtime and maintaining optimal performance. Components such as build platform surfaces, resin tanks, and resin trays are subject to wear and degradation over time. Monitoring the condition of these parts and replacing them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations ensures reliable operation and minimizes the risk of print failures. Sound complicated? Not really. It’s comparable to replacing the wheels or dust filters in your robot vacuum at home.
Establishing a relationship with a reputable supplier or service provider is also invaluable for ongoing maintenance and support. A trusted partner can provide technical assistance, troubleshooting guidance, and access to genuine replacement parts, ensuring that any issues with the 3D printer can be promptly addressed to minimize disruption to dental workflows.
Stepping Confidently Into the Future
Integrating 3D printing into your dental practice is a transformative investment that offers numerous benefits for both practitioners and patients alike. Implementing 3D printing in your office continues to get easier and more accessible for practices of any size.
DentalCAD Clinical Print Package
At Benco Dental, we want the implementation of any innovative technology to be as easy and efficient as possible, which is why we have partnered with exocad to bring dental professionals our Clinical Print Package.
Provide your patients with a variety of options, such as temporary restorations, smile makeover previews, and night guards, using your 3D printer. You have the flexibility to choose what works best for your practice. Thanks to collaborations with top 3D printer makers in dentistry, exocad software seamlessly integrates with 3D printer software, making your workflow smooth and straightforward. Plus, you still have the freedom to pick from various manufacturing systems.
The Clinical Print Package includes DentalCAD, a powerful software solution for dental restoration designs, access to exocad’s online collaboration service dentalshare, virtual onboarding, and a month-long series of training sessions to ensure that you are getting the most of your investment.
By investing in the necessary tools and training, you can seamlessly incorporate 3D printing into your workflow, enhancing efficiency, precision, and ultimately, the quality of patient care. Embrace the future of dentistry with confidence and embark on a journey of innovation and excellence. It’s easy, and you’ll have as much help as you need at every step of the way.
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